Chapter 42: Father-Daughter Time
Derek and Meredith take their leave of William and Eliza, with promises to return soon. They managed to avoid the roast beef dinner that Eliza was determined to feed them one last time, promising to join them next time. On their return to London, Meredith takes her lists of family names from the local parish, and is happily ensconced with Thatcher, searching the internet with him for more family information.
Derek leaves her there, heading to meet with his accountant about the possibility of beginning to fund a restoration to Wyndhaven, and to go to Savage Garden. He learned of Thatcher's conversation with Mark and he's wondering about Mark's side of the story. Gregor waves him by the line of would be club goers, wearing his usual black slacks and Metallica t-shirt. He has added a studded choker and fingerless black gloves.
"Nice look, Gregor," Derek chuckles. His own elegant raw-silk suit, and white shirt are impeccable as always.
"Hey, it adds to the total package. Girls love it."
"I'm sure they do…seen Mark tonight?"
Gregor nods. "Been around – think he's out with a host right now, or maybe two..." A smirk tugs at Gregor's lips.
"Of course. I'll be inside if you see him come back." Derek heads inside, where Nikolai greets him. He indicates the raised booth at the back, and sit facing each other. "Welcome back, Derek. You look good – marriage obviously agrees with you."
"No complaints."
Nikolai smirks. "Ah, it's the lovely Meredith that is good for you."
Derek crosses one ankle over his other knee, taking time to wipe a smudge from the gleaming alligator leather boots. "Better and better every night. How has Mark been…I've been hearing tales about him."
"I think you've arrived just in time to save him from himself."
"Save him?" Derek raises one eyebrow.
"From getting lost in the blood lust. He won't listen to me." The elder vampire scowls.
"What is he doing now?"
"Cutting a wide swath among our female patrons, nearly taking blood openly. I had to intervene a time or two."
Derek frowns. "He's always been a womanizer, Nikolai. It's not unusual."
"It's more desperate than that – as if he's running from something."
"Someone…the mortal female."
"Just because he craves a female is no reason to be this wild. There's more than enough time in our existence to take what we need." His gem green eyes flash in amusement.
"He's been commanded to leave her alone. Mark doesn't take chastisement well." Derek senses Mark's approach then, before catching sight of him push through the doors. His friend is flushed from recent blood, with an air of unconcerned detachment around him. There is a girl on each arm, and he shoos them away as Derek raises his hand in greeting. "I'll speak with him, Nikolai."
"Good luck with that," Nikolai says dryly.
Mark lounges negligently against the bar, waiting for Derek. The little werefox bartender moves away, leaving them alone. "Well, here you are. Was the honeymoon good?"
Derek nods silently, taking in Mark's appearance. Still impeccably dressed, in black slacks, a cashmere turtleneck and long leather jacket, yet there is that edge of melancholy about him. "Thatcher spoke with you, I know. I understand you defied him and returned to Seattle…"
"It was nothing. Just a momentary lapse in judgment. The good doctor won't be bothered by my presence again." Mark grimaces.
"What about Dr. Montgomery's emotions…you can't just disappear. This is why we wipe any memory of our encounters, Sloan."
"I know, but..."
"But she's piqued your interest enough to return to her. Now you should do it again and at least say good-bye and take yourself out of her thoughts."
Mark waves his hand to brush away the suggestion. "I can't do that. She means nothing, I can't be saddled with just one female for the rest of eternity after all, Derek." He shudders theatrically.
"It's appealing if you have the right woman, I've told you that before. Then it's all you want." Derek tries to keep any thoughts of Meredith's warm, tempting body from surfacing as he speaks.
"Hell, man, I'm doing my best to follow the rules here. I'm not seeing the woman, and I'm damn not thinking about her, okay?"
Derek laughs shortly. "Since when? You love to break rules."
"Maybe I've turned over a new leaf."
"Hmm…not from what Nikolai tells me. You've been rather open, according to him."
"Oh, that…" Mark snorts. "Too much vodka in the blood – made me careless. Won't happen again." He eyes a couple more women lurking nearby, scenting their desire and craving more blood yet again.
"Mark, how many women are you taking nightly?"
Mark slaps Derek's shoulder before making a move towards the women. "Not enough, Shep. Not fucking enough…" And he moves with predatory grace, slinging his arms around the slim shoulders of the two female, using his potent allure to lead them outside.
"See what I mean?" Nikolai appears silently at Derek's elbow, nodding towards the disappearing figures. He fusses with his jacket sleeves, as he looks back at Derek.
"You're right. He sounds much like Alexei and look where he is now."
"Very true, and my club is sorely missing the seductive triumvirate you three used to be, Derek," Nikolai quips. "Such domestic bliss – never expected to see the night that would happen."
"Speaking of bliss, I should go." Derek prepares to leave. His eyes gleam with undisguised anticipation of returning home to Meredith. There is always the promise of her welcoming warmth…and still more of that luscious lingerie to remove. He can worry about Mark later. But first, he must take some fresh blood himself, and slake some of his thirst before returning home to satisfy his other cravings. Because no other female would ever satisfy what throbs inside of him for his lovely wife. Already he is imagining losing himself in her sweet body, and he grins to himself. He is bound to Meredith irrevocably, and he wouldn't have it any other way.
Meredith runs her fingers through her hair, leaning back in the chair. She and Thatcher have been searching through dozens of names, until she feels nearly cross-eyed. "Ready to take a break?" Thatcher asks, rubbing his own temples.
"Absolutely," Meredith smiles, curling one leg under her, and leaning her chin on her fist. "Oh, I didn't tell you – Derek is thinking of restoring the Wyndhaven Manor!"
"That's marvelous news – I guess the finding of thieves there may have triggered part of that." Thatcher smiles at the tale of the two of them routing the would-be robbers. "Would you move from London then?"
"No, likely not. Just from time to time – it's so lovely there."
"It always was, as I recall," Thatcher reminisces. "A good place to raise a family."
"Well, it will take a while to restore the place, you know. And I'm not even sure if there will be children, after all…"
"Are you so sure about that?"
Meredith turns to him, raising one eyebrow. "You really think it's possible?"
"You and Derek have a very special bond – there's no doubt in my mind you will create a child together. A very special, gifted child."
Meredith unconsciously touches her abdomen. Is there a chance she's pregnant already – after their last few intense rounds of making love, does she feel any changes in her body?
"And you would be a very doting grandfather, I'm sure," she comments finally.
Thatcher smiles gently. "You may be correct – I'm still sorry I missed so much of your childhood, after all."
"Then you need to be part of the future generation, if and when it comes about, Father." She kisses his cheek, before turning her attention back to the computer screen. "Now, as much as I should keep going with this, I believe Derek will be returning home soon. I want to find out what happened with Mark." She bookmarks a page, and then prints a copy to take with her.
"Don't worry too much about him, my dear. Mark will find his way to his own destiny, I'm sure."
"Still, I feel concerned about him." Meredith collects her purse, and shrugs into her jacket. "I'd like to help him again, but I don't know how."
"It will work out. Trust me," Thatcher smiles fondly, as she leaves.